Henceforth, the defence of the cities throughout Europe would be organized by engineers to reinforcing and improving the effectiveness of the fortification of Rhodes is only confirmed towards the end of the time of the Knights.

Most of the manual work, entailed in carrying out the fortification works, was done by slaves, mentioned in documents of the Knights as argodolati. The fortresses in the countryside were often built by the Order, at its own expense, but the inhabitants of the area were obliged to meet the costs of their maintenance; many times they were also coerced into helping with the building. Specialist craftsmen were paid for their labour.

The Towers

Up until the time of J. B. de Lastic, the earlier towers, rectangular or round, were a few meters distant from the wall and independed of it so that they could be isolated as the battle progressed. It was now necessary that they be joint to the wall, in order to resist the force of cannon fire. Low bulwarks were erected in front of those towers located at points critical to the defences and since these projected beyond the main fortification, the range of its artillery was thus increased. From P. d’ Aubusson’s time on wards there was a prudent reduction in the number of landward gates. Those abolished were converted into truly advanced bastions.

The towers were: Naillac, Windmill’s, Italy’s or Carretto, St. Athanasios, “Our Lady’s” tower, Spain’s, St. George’s, Ap. Peter’s, St. Nicholas’s, Trebuc. Another more, the Guardia Tower, existed on the west beginning of the internal wall that divided the medieval town into two unequal parts. On its base is now standing the clock tower of the town.

The Gates